Pathum Nissanka's 75-ball 71, Dinesh Chandimal’s 91-ball 75 and Charith Asalanka’s 68-ball 71 helped Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by five wickets in the first ODI of three-match series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing 297, Sri Lanka got off to an active start, courtesy a run-a-ball 40-run opening-wicket stand between Nissanka and Kusal Mendis (26). At No. 3, Kamindu Mendis scored a 24-ball 17 before Richard Ngarava (3-56) cleaned him up in the 14th over but Chandimal, Nissanka and Asalanka all chipped in to get Sri Lanka over the line with nine balls to spare.
Earlier, Sean Williams' 87-ball 100 and Regis Chakabva's 72 of 81 helped Zimbabwe pile 296/9 after Craig Ervine opted to bat. Chakabva, dropped by Asalanka at first slip off Nuwan Pradeep on 2, put on an 80-run opening stand with Takudzwanashe Kaitano before the latter was trapped leg before by Jeffrey Vandersay in the 15th over. Debutant Kaitano hit seven fours in his 50-ball 42.
But Chakabva held on and notched his fourth ODI fifty in the 19th over with a single. Kamindu Mendis ended Craig Ervine's short stay with an inside edge on to the stumps. However, Chakabva and Williams held the fort from there, adding 50 for the fourth wicket before Vandersay returned to dismiss Chakabva in the 30th over.
However, Williams kept scoring runs quickly despite receiving little support after Chakabva’s departure to get to his fifth ODI hundred. Richard Ngarava then finished off the innings with a six and a four to set Sri Lanka a challenging total.
Zimbabwe will hope to keep the series alive when they take on Sri Lanka again on 19 January, at the same venue.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 296/9 in 50 overs (Sean Williams 100; Chamika Karunaratne 3-69) lost to Sri Lanka 299/5 in 48.3 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 75; Richard Ngarava 3-56) by 5 wickets with 9 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Dinesh Chandimal.